Expired Good Samaritan duties
893 Words
“Who am I?” A question that kept echoing in his mind. He wasn’t completely blank, he knew stuff. Like for instance, using a wet cloth to wash himself should count as a bath. It should be a tub filled with tempered water, essential oils and perfume. His room, should have fine articles of gold and fine Jade, his bed laid with the finest silk. How could he be in a barn full of grain and horse feed, that reeked of fish.
How could he be dressed so shabbily?
He flung the clothe into the bucket and headed for the room glowing with candle light.
“He doesn’t even know his name! We’ve done our best, send him away by morning”
“To where?! Hong’er, he’s lost and confused, you should be a little more kind”
“To a stranger at the expense of my family’s safety, over my—
They pity me?! By the heavens! I’m better than them and they dare pity me!
He pushed the door open, interrupting their not so quite meeting “Are these,” he gestured to the poorly patched up robe that looked more like rag than proper clothing “my clothes?”
The couple looked at each other, the man blushing under his wife’s questioning gaze. “You sold it” she accused.
“I wasn’t sure he’d survive” Hong muttered
“Redeem it tomorrow and give it back.”
He cleared his throat awkwardly “ it’s not like it was worth much… it was torn and no more different from what he has on. Besides, how was I supposed to cover a fraction of his medicine cost.”
“Hong!”
“It’s fine, thank you for saving my life. He bowed. I’ll leave by morning but find me some more suitable to wear first”
“Y-you remem-mber?” His eyes snapped to the girl seated on the floor…the very sound of hee voice irritated his core.
“Wh-what’s your n-name?”
“Don’t know, don’t remember.” A quick dismissive answer
“Wh-where would y-you go then?”
“ Away from this wretched house and your annoying question-
Hong rose up and smacked his cheek “Listen boy, you don’t talk to my daughter that way.”
“You hit me?
“I did. Shiquan, go lock the barn this young man wouldn’t dare sleep in this wretched house”
“Hong—
“Not this time, he’s crossed the line.” Shiquan saw the finality in her father’s eyes and did as he said
Hong went inside and came out with the bag and the clothes he’d retrieved from the brat.
“You’re lucky, I was too busy to sell the robes. All yours, now leave.”
“It’s night, Hong’er”
“Haha! That’s true, but our house is too wretched to hold a person of his calibre.”
With that, the stranger was shooed away.
Shiquan snuck out with a quilt, hurrying after the proud and foolish stranger.
“Wait! W-wait”
“Even if you kowtowed and begged me I wouldn't go back”
Her eyes rolled in disgust. She tossed the quilt and it hit him squarely on the head. “I was worried you'll be frozen by morning” the sentence took too long to form but he waited to hear it all.
“Keep your gratitude!”she turned and skipped back home, hair whipping against the cool breeze.
He kissed his teeth in annoyance,
Ha! And i wanted to thank her, is she worthy?
The quilt was warm, though coarse, it was indeed a proper shield against the cold.
Shiquan found her mother up ahead, her happy skips, slowing into uncertain steps. “Hurry over here, don't let your father catch us!” Xiang whisper yelled
“You k-knew…
“No, I came to bring him food. He didn't eat at all.”
Xiang looked back into the courtyard “Where is he?”
“By the Gu porridge s-shop. I think he might sleep there”
“Wait here and watch your Father. If he wakes cover for me”
Shiquan watched her mother disappear down the street only to reappear once again with the young man. She smiled. Of course, her mother couldn't bear to leave him behind.
“I know what you're thinking, but he was already in his way back here before I met him”
“Oh” Shiquan smiled teasingly “Our house, isn't too wretch-hed for you, your m-majesty?”
Under the moonlight she saw his face go red “I’m sorry, I was being foolish before. Thank you for the quilt”
“H-how could y-your majesty be foolish, your majesty is mos-st wise”
“Stop it Quan’er take him to the barn, he’ll properly apologise by morning, then you can poke your fun”
“Yes mother”
“I'm going inside, go straight to bed after”
“Of course”
Shiquan led him to the barn. She lit a lantern, “I'll leave this here.” she set it down “eat fast and sleep, you’ll have an early day tomorrow”
“Shiquan” her name came out like an exasperated sigh. She hmmmed in response turning
“Thank you”
She smiled “Sleep well”
- Writer
